A former child-star and lead singer for alt-country-cum-80’s-disco-pastiche act Rilo Kiley, Jenny Lewis is a consummate show-woman from the tips of her red hair to the heels of her leather cowboy boots. And every iota of that star quality is required tonight, for it’s her sheer charisma alone that carries along a set that’s desperately lacking in quality songwriting. Her work with the Watson Twins was stellar, and even her weaker Rilo Kiley material comes to life in a live setting but here we’re delivered a stream of non-descript country that would have been roundly derided if not for her indie provenance. And that’s a real shame, as her band are excellent (especially her drummer), she herself puts on a full-throated vocal performance which compensates in part for the pedestrian balladry on offer and there are the occasional special moments- one song is accompanied only by the a capella harmonies of the rest of her entourage, which was really quite beautiful. But overall, it just increased my annoyance that I never got to see her on the Watson Twins tour- this, alas, was just a pale imitation. (Photo: John Gleeson)
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